FSU walks off in extras to sweep series from 'Canes

TALLAHASSEE — As his veteran teammate gingerly walked hunched over at the waist, trying to shake loose pain from a leg, Florida State freshman shortstop Giovanny Alfonzo looked on in subdued horror.

"My heart dropped," Alfonzo said Sunday, recounting his disbelief at an apparent first-inning injury to junior shortstop Justin Gonzalez. "It was just one of those things where I was like, 'All right, calm down, get yourself together, and if you go out there, make the most of it.' "

A half-inning and a hamstring strain to Gonzalez later, and Alfonzo was in. He was facing a team that once made feverish pitches trying to recruit him.

By the end of the rally-filled, high-drama, extra-inning contest, the freshman middle infielder played a key role in helping the Seminoles walk off with a crucial 8-7 win over in-state rival Miami. The victory gave the top-ranked Seminoles (33-7, 19-2 ACC) their fifth conference sweep of the season. Their 19-2 ACC mark is now the best they have had to start a season since 1999.

This weekend's sweep over the No. 18 Hurricanes (26-14, 12-9) also was FSU's first over Miami since a mid-April series in Coral Gables in 2002.

"It hasn't happened in a while," FSU coach Mike Martin Sr. said of the sweep. "I'm just very proud to be a part of it. Our ballclub played very well."

FSU won in the 10th inning, when Seminoles leadoff hitter Sherman Johnson sharply bounced a one-out sinker through the hole at first and second to plate Alfonzo, who began the inning with his first career hit.

After he realized Alfonzo cruised home, Johnson jogged toward center field, trying to stave off eager teammates who raced from their first-base dugout to celebrate the walk-off RBI hit with him.

While the Seminoles had much to enjoy by the end of the day, there was a point when it didn't appear they wouldn't have anything to be happy about.

Rolling through the first three innings, FSU starter Scott Sitz (2-2) was unable to get out of the fourth.

He wasn't alone.

Two other Seminoles were unable to get out of the inning.

Down 4-0, the Hurricanes rallied to take their first lead of the weekend when the first seven hitters in the inning reached base.

"That's the nature of the beast," Martin said. "It's amazing what can happen, so to speak. A bunt, base hit and a walk … and before you know it, bam."

Two batters later, FSU reliever Hunter Scantling gave up a grand slam to Miami's Michael Broad.

Two pitchers later, reliever Gage Smith came in to get the Seminoles out of a 12-batter, 33-minute jam. Miami led 7-4.

"The key to the ballgame," Martin said. "Gage Smith came in and settled everything down for us to give us a chance to get back in it."

Lasting a career-long 4-1/3 innings, Smith kept the Seminoles around just long enough to help fuel their comeback bid. With a career-high four strikeouts, Smith didn't allow a run during his 50-pitch outing.

Miami coach Jim Morris was displeased that the Hurricanes couldn't capitalize on their breakout fourth.

"It was a big inning for us, no question," he said. "We just got to hold the lead better when we get it — we didn't do that."